Members of the Greater Bridgeport Youth Orchestras' Principal Orchestra rehearse recently for their Jan. 12 family concert with the Greater Bridgeport Symphony. Christoper Hisey, standing in pink shirt, will conduct both orchestras. less

Members of the Greater Bridgeport Youth Orchestras' Principal Orchestra rehearse recently for their Jan. 12 family concert with the Greater Bridgeport Symphony. Christoper Hisey, standing in pink shirt, will ... more

Photo: Contributed Photo

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Tenor William Hall will sing the role of King Kaspar in the "Amahl & Peter" concert on Jan. 12 at the Klein Memorial Auditorium in Bridgeport.

Tenor William Hall will sing the role of King Kaspar in the "Amahl & Peter" concert on Jan. 12 at the Klein Memorial Auditorium in Bridgeport.

Photo: Contributed Photo

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Bass-baritone Brad Walker with sing the role of King Melchior in the "Amahl & Peter" family concert on Jan. 12 at the Klein Memorial Auditorium in Bridgeport.

Bass-baritone Brad Walker with sing the role of King Melchior in the "Amahl & Peter" family concert on Jan. 12 at the Klein Memorial Auditorium in Bridgeport.

Photo: Contributed Photo

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Soprano Christina Holms will sing the role of Amahl's mother in the "Amahl & Peter" family concert on Jan. 12 at the Klein Memorial Auditorium in Bridgeport.

Soprano Christina Holms will sing the role of Amahl's mother in the "Amahl & Peter" family concert on Jan. 12 at the Klein Memorial Auditorium in Bridgeport.

Photo: Contributed Photo

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Richard Owen III will sing the role of Amahl in the "Amahl & Peter" family concert on Jan. 12 at the Klein Memorial Auditorium in Bridgeport.

Richard Owen III will sing the role of Amahl in the "Amahl & Peter" family concert on Jan. 12 at the Klein Memorial Auditorium in Bridgeport.

Photo: Contributed Photo

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Baritone Edward Pleasant will sing the role of King Balthazar at the "Amahl & Peter" family concert on Jan. 12 at the Klein Memorial Auditorium in Bridgeport.

Baritone Edward Pleasant will sing the role of King Balthazar at the "Amahl & Peter" family concert on Jan. 12 at the Klein Memorial Auditorium in Bridgeport.

Photo: Contributed Photo

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Members of the Greater Bridgeport Symphony (shown at a 2013 concert) will come together with members of the Greater Bridgeport Youth Orchestras at a family concert on Sunday afternoon, Jan. 12, at the Klein Memorial Auditorium. less

Members of the Greater Bridgeport Symphony (shown at a 2013 concert) will come together with members of the Greater Bridgeport Youth Orchestras at a family concert on Sunday afternoon, Jan. 12, at the Klein ... more

Photo: Contributed Photo

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Special concert at Klein is 'A Family Affair'

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For the first time in decades, two of the largest cultural organizations in Greater Bridgeport will collaborate on a Sunday afternoon family concert at the Klein Memorial Auditorium.

"Amahl & Peter: A Family Affair" -- in which "two orchestras tell two tales with narration and song," according to presenters -- is set for Sunday, Jan. 12, at 3 p.m. at Bridgeport's municipal theater.

More than two dozen members of the Greater Bridgeport Symphony will join forces with the Greater Bridgeport Youth Orchestras to present "Peter and the Wolf," a tale of a brave-but-naughty boy, with text and words by Sergei Prokofiev, and Gian Carlo Menotti's 1951 one-act opera in English, "Amahl and the Night Visitors," about the Three Kings' journey to Bethlehem.

Christopher Hisey, artistic director of the GBYO and a past GBS guest conductor, will be on the podium throughout, leading the GBS in "Peter and the Wolf" and the GBYO's Principal Orchestra of about 75 members in "Amahl."

In a special gesture of "friendship and support," the GBS and GBYO will perform together -- side-by-side -- in George Bizet's Farandole from L'Arlesienne, Suite No. 2. (Hisey pointed out that although its title may be unfamiliar, the piece is anything but, as it's "used all the time on television and the movies.")

More Information

If you go"Amahl & Peter: A Family Affair" concert takes place Sunday, Jan. 12, at 3 p.m. at the Klein Memorial Auditorium, 910 Fairfield Ave. in Bridgeport. Tickets $45, $35, $25 and $15 available at www.gbs.org, or the GBS box office, 203-576-0263. The snow date is Feb. 2. Free parking in the municipal lot across from the theater.

"This is a great program for children of all ages," Hisey said last week. "And it's easy on the ears for adults, too. Parents, grandparents and extended families will have the opportunity to spend the afternoon together" at a festive, celebratory new year's event.

"This concert is ideal family entertainment: cultural, educational and fun," said Jim O'Donnell, foundation president. "It's a great way of introducing the young, and young at heart, to the wonderful way that music can be used to tell a story."

Alex Morr, GBS executive director, noted that "having given birth to the GBYO (in 1961), this concert presents a unique opportunity for the GBS to resume our educational relationship ... in jointly presenting a Sunday afternoon family concert. We are hopeful that this can be a precursor to family concerts in future seasons."

"We chose the name `A Family Affair' because it truly is just that," said former GBYO President Mark R. Halstead. "It's an event the whole family can enjoy and more. It's a family reunion of GBYO with the organization that gave it life 52 years ago. This is a unique opportunity for the kids to perform with professional musicians and singers. Quite a few GBS musicians are teachers of GBYO students, and they will now share the stage at the Klein."

The GBYO became an independent organization is 1991. Over the decades, the GBYO has expanded markedly, featuring five developmentally-sequential ensembles featuring more than 250 students, in the fifth grade through high school, from about 30 area towns and cities. Meanwhile, the GBS, which is celebrating its 68th season, is in the midst of a search to find a successor to Gustav Meier, who served as music director and conductor for 41 seasons before retiring in April.

Maestro Hisey, who will celebrate his 40th birthday on Saturday, Jan. 11, preparing for the concert, said he's "looking forward to this great event -- great for the audience, the GBS and the GBYO. Audiences will enjoy the accessible program. For the youth orchestra, the concert is a fantastic educational opportunity to perform with professionals. And for the GBS, I think this represents a return to a more vigorous educational outreach program.

"And I think the music is relevant to everyone, regardless of age," he added. "And for me? I think it's awesome to be celebrating a (milestone) birthday by conducting."

For early birds

Dr. Orin Grossman -- pianist, Fairfield University professor emeritus and a Gershwin specialist -- will present a family-friendly talk about the program, beginning at 2:15 p.m, free for ticket-holders.